Cam operated mop device



April 21, 1959 H. H. MARKER ET AL CAM OPERATED MOP DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 30, 1953 HeNrLv H Muggesi NATHANISL leeNLc-:AF BY ATTOPNQY April 2l, 1959 H. H. MARKER ET AL CAM QPERATED MOP DEVICE Filed Nov. 30, 1953 S EN y ce@ my ,.MN a vma w NHG. Y A ya p@ ENR Hm A NV. a

April 21, 1959 H. H. MARKER ET AL CAM OPERATED MOP DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 30, 1955 sNvemvoQg,

Hemuy H. MAFQfeQ.

NATHANIQL. a. @@SNLQAF BY lvres-2916 April 21, 1959 H, H, MARKER ET AL 2,882,540

CAM OPERATED MOP DEVICE I Filed Nov. 50, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @a O e T w m A VM .NH 2 a 3 a@ 5 w b 2 Q6 O 5 O. NV H O 8 o. d 4 l l l 2 2 52 H G G P n l I 1V ,0 3 n 3 1 ,w AJ

l l I l l l l I I I l l I l l l ||9|-|| u IIIHH un HHH lill ./.m @V HHIUMWII l t l li HHMIMIHHNMHIHMHl llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll l.. u luul ummm) I @l 4 m. IF Jr.. nk I x-H/ l I W 4 l a 7 l 202 3 33 NATHANff-:L BGQgeNLeA: BY

AT1-@Quay Patented Apr. 21, 1959 ing prassure@'increases-to:eliminate-1resstanceofftrappedl 11 waterf'infthe sponge. if..

2 882 540 These-Tand other'fobjects-.and features'will become1ap-` parent'ifromthey followingfdetailedv'description taken in z CAM OPERATEDIMOP:DEWICE'zin 5 conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which, .i 1:" l ti 'f t l1 bok .awaJ Henry.Marker,fSan Degogcalf., and Nathaniel- Bf Flgure 1 1s an e eva Dual vlew par la y r en y Greenleaf Torohto, .Ontariow Canada, .ssignosw of a 'm'op embodying the inventionand showing ithemop v y 4 Sponge ProductsCorporation,A Chicago, ill.` m lts'snormal'moppmg Position" APPl'caOlINOVe'mbPl' '305119535 Serial Nikl 394,933 f '10 the mopioperated 'to partially. Afold the sponge.v

12 Climgwh 15;.119) Figure 3 1s a frontl zelevatronalfviewfoff the mop:.w1th1s'f.l1A

the spongexfullyifolded-and compressed. 'siii Y Figure is a perspective:;viewr1of'1thefmop of,v Figuresf 1 to f3. i

This invention relates to.improvements.inimopsffof.,,thef 15 Figure 5 is an enlarged frontrfelevational ,view illus-v ,f typeizzwherein, :in wringing,f.. the moppingfelement: orf trating theiover-centrersnap action resistinginitial moveL sponge isffolded .upon "itseltiand compressedrtosqueeze'irai ment'of theimop'elementsfromtthe moppingtowards'thez riz:

out the. watertherefrom; :r wringingipositions; Ar "1 The principalxobject of: this :inventionisftoaprovide s Figuref r' is anenlarged'elevational viewofthe mop" a mop *of the' above typewhich'will enablenthe sponge- 20 in fullwringingpositionrwith/the sponge removed.-

to be moreithoroughly:V wrung ',than rheretofo1e;;.and`v Figuren? is fanffed'ge'elevationalviewofvthe mopfofy to be wrung; with vconsiderably vless eiortsrand -gre'ater:::r Figuie4 6;".f g efficiency and smoothness of operationnz'L With reference toltheldrawingsthe'mop disclosed com- Another lc' bject.istorenable the thorough; wringing of; prises'a thandlelshownrof tubularffform having'an enthe sponge to be carried out regardless of :the amount 125 largedilower'end 2 .comprisingachannel member hav 1 of wear Aonifthe. sponge'. whereby'` efcientmopoperation ing a boss 3 received withinvthefhandle shaft 1v as shown` can fbe maintained bthroughouttthe life offthe sponge: in Figure. alf. .Pivotallyflspported on the handle memeV and conversely'the'usefulrlife ofi-the sponge extendedra-z i' ber Z'iare axpair offjaws$4 Lshown-lofarcuate'form which A further:'importantobjectlis tolprovide Eafmopiwhere-'a'y are adaptedlito*` swing 'betweenffan openvpositionY shown` in the sponge'zwill be.`lfirmly1held.in: its extendedaimopf.` 3Q in Figure' 1;'and azclosed position:shown=particularly in pingllposition yagainst the` folding :tendencyimpartedzrasn` Figure 3.

it is drawnvback and forth across the'lioorIunderrnormalV Stopfisurfa'ces'iS"Onf'thehandIe-member A2 limit` openmoppingctionjw: ing movementrofifthe jaws f4 tothe arch-like formation Again itffisfaniobjectf to'fprovidev azfmop which .will 'z di. shownnfFiguede".The jaws141thusisimulatethe move-f operate'eici'ently mithvarioussizesrzof sponge: 35 ment'zo'flaiclarn` shell..ff. Still anotherfobjectrisrltoprovide" aImop action'vloeV i` Mounted'ifon the handled is 'a slide 6 comprising a catingznworking partsivwhichfmight .beiadvers'elyv affected f. pair fofopposed'fplates- '1 Lha'vng Vinturnediend anges Sw by hot'waterffand detergents atifpositionsfupf'out ofthe formed @with concavedfbearing 'edges' 9 riding on the water.; handle shaftn The platesi'are held to the shaft* by'pivot f.

Again it'ris arir-zo'bject to"provide faf'mop'fastraforesai'drs49 pins forfvrivetsvlO extending between opposinglateral` of Sturdy and reable construction; ,w armsllrrof -the plates and pivotallyfsupporting a pair of One -importantffeature of theinvention :residesi'incprofr levers"lzsdisposedfonf oppositesides: of the handle.l `A

vidingrthe moplwithwa-pair ,',ofaspongeicarryingifplates.. fr; pair .'ofrilangedyspongecarrying plates '13' are formed i mounted: to :swing :from an: aligned-f mopping: :position/stov a parallel: abutting l'positio'nifor wringing to'fenable ai t spongecarried rbythe plates-.to beicompletelyfand thor-iss.I 15 passing-.throughthese knuckles and similar knuckles f. adjacent 'theirinneriends 'asfshown-inFigures 1f and 44 with apertured knuckles 14 or lugsfand pins orrivets oughly wrunggzffcsz. 16 fonnedzat-:the free ends'of-.the jaws .41 pivotally` con- Y Another importantfeature:residesiiin' operating the 'for nectrtheiplatesnand jaws. :i f sponge carrying plates through a leveraxrangementifembodying fan .over-centre Laction-restraining initialijnov mentof thev plates' 'from'.:their:alignedlmoppingcpositio A further .feature 'residesiin foperating therlever/arrange ment by means of a cam ,device `to .provide smoothcammi.l

m of the-levers 112 a'nd aperturedzzknuckles 'or lugs =18f,ar'f

linkszi'17" and :levers flzwthus form aftoggle lconnection Links 117i are pivotallyconnected to`:th'e lower endsr' ranged:intermediateLth'e` length ofthe plates -13. The 'f'rf and pivotally connected between the pivots `19 connect- Operation.;Couplediwithan.eicientleverfaction; er: ing the links 17 and levers 12 and the pivots 20 pivotally Still :axfurther featureresidesiinldcatingthe engaging@ connecting-the jaws 4v-and the handle end member 2' cam 'surfaces Supl out ofithe waterf-'and :free lfromlconare links-21:1 l1,

V-camssl'idingl'on the handlerqa'nd engagingrollers car-dfi. ing position, 1-"1'guresf1v :to 3; and particularly FigureSyi ried by the levers to'provide' Jasmooth," 'eicientand bal- '-60 the pivots 19 Lswing -througha position where'they "are in anced `wringing'iactionf alignment with the pivots"-20 and having a maximum Still via-furt1ier feature'resides in2"slidafbly fspp'ortin'g displacement'fromth'e axis of the handle 1 to provide the levers from the mop handle to '-move withflth'e cam during initial 'wringing'action and to'ibethereafter op described ""1 an over-'centre' snap action* hereinafter more particularly eratedby' the'camas-the sponge' resistance'to'movementi` 5 Slidably mounted' ony the liandlevl4 is asleeve-ZZfpi-oAv 1 of thev sponge plates becomes 'appreiable"thereby'pro-f" vided with a spool-shaped lower" end A23 Whicharries-a'..

vidingfinitially a' fast closing'action of 4the plates fol- V-camgenerallydesignated 'at 24 having va ,central cylin-` lowed'bya .subsequent slower'cam actuated .c'losin'g ac j if dricalrbody-"portion 25encircling1the spoolpo'rtion 23. 'i

tion enablingwringing toibeeasily' carried'out but pro' viding"sucientl opportunity'ffo'r the' water to"be: freelyum expresseduas'foldng ofthe spongeicontinues-'and wring;-

The"`V-cam24isanged` toform a pair of, upwardly1 diverg'ing cam *'surfacesor tracks 126 and these. tracksy which' are of T=section"extend'appreiably belowthe spool 23 to form a pair of arms having a measure of resiliency. The web portion 27 of the T-tracks 26 tapers towards the lower end of the camv and extendsat-its inner edge 281, `substantially parallel to but spaced from the handle. At the extreme lower end the tracks 26 are provided with out-turned hooks 29 engaging beneath stops 30 provided on the levers 12.

Mounted on the upper ends of the levers 12 are rollers 31 which are adapted to roll on the tracks 26 being held to the trackways by hooks 32 which project therebeneath. The levers 12. are shown as paired levers, al-

though it will be understood, that they may be channelshaped or of any other suitable construction.

In the particular illustration herein disclosed, the lower ends of each lever pair are inturned as at 33 with these opposed inturned ends forming spacer means to maintain lever separation. v A

Secured to the plates 13 is a mopping element or sponge 34, preferably having a cellulose sponge body provided with a backing comprising a pair of plates 3S adhered to the sponge 34 and carrying screw-threaded projections 36 which project through suitable openings in the plates 13.and are engaged by wing nuts 37 clamping the sponge to the plates 13. Preferably a fabric-35 is adhered to the sponge over the plates 35, and may be in the form of three separate portions comprising two elongated end portions 35a anking a narrow central portion 35b as seen in Figure 4. t

The backing plates 35 are separated toprovide a exible intermediate sponge element portion 38, allowing the sponge to be folded when the plates 13 are swung from the mopping position of Figure 1 through to the wringing position of Figure 3 and Figure 6.

In operation, the sleeve 22 is operated down the handle 1 or, conversely, the handle 1 is pulled up through the sleeve 22v as shown in Figure 5 to actuate the spongecarrying plates 13 from their aligned mopping position of Figure l to fold the sponge element 34. During this initial movement of thesleeve 22 or, alternatively, of the handle 1 through the sleeve 22, the links 21 maintain the lower ends of the levers 12 spread apart so that the upper ends carrying ythe rollers 31 are held from advancing up the diverging cam tracks 26 formed on the V-cam 24. As a result initially the levers 12 have the same relative movement with respect to the handle 1 as the sleeve 22 and V-cam 24, all of which move together initially as a unit relative to the handle.

Because the pivots 19 move on a fixed arc relative to the handle 1, and hence pivots 20, from a position above alignment with the pivots 20 to a position below these pivots, the lower ends of the levers 12, as shown particularly in Figure 5, are spread apart to a maximum oppositely disposed cantilever the rollers 31 to ride up on vthe cam tracks 26,

sponge into V-form, providing a sloppiness in action in which the full elective length of the sponge is not employed.

As the links 21 and levers 12 reach the position shown in dotted line in Figure continued movement of the sleeve 22, and V-cam 24 relative to the handle 1, causes forcing the upper ends of the levers 12 apart. Y

Since the links 21 constrain movement of the lower ends .of the levers 12 substantially to inward movement,

after the dotted line position of Figure 5 has been passed, there is relatively little movement of the levers along the handle 1 until, nally, bodily displacement of the levers is terminated, and their entire motion is constituted by fulcruming about their pivots on the lateral arms 11 under action of the V-cam 24 to close the spongecarrying plates 13.

In the closing-action.' of these plates the sponge 34 'is folded transversely on itself and the'plates13, swung inidegree as Athe pivots 19 and 20 reach alignment, forcing the resilient lower ends of the T-section tracks 26, forming the cantilever arms, together, as shown in rdotted line in Figure 5.

As the pivots 19 swing above or below the pivots 20, or, alternatively, the pivots 20 are drawn above or forced below the pivots 19, the lower ends of the levers'12 begin to approach, allowing the resilient tracks 26 to spring outwardly, as shown in solid line in Figure 5.

This action is important as the spring arrangement of the V-cam and the connection of the links 21 with vthe levers 12 provides an over-centre snap action which initially resists relative movement of the V-carn with its associated levers 12 and the handle 1 to initially resist swinging movement of the sponge-carrying plates 13 and hence folding of the sponge.

This initial resistance to folding of the sponge is provided to maintain the sponge element distended in the position of Figure 1 under normal mopping action as sponge across the surface has" the tendency to fld the tially by the combined longitudinal movement of the V- cam and lever assembly relative to the handle 1 and subsequently bythe `fulcruming of the levers under action-of the V-cam, swing initially relatively rapidly from the aligned position to form an obtuse angle therebetween, rthen moreV slowly, as the bodily displacement of the levers along thehandle 1 decreases and inally terminates to closeto a parallel position under fulcruming of thelevers by the V-carn.

This arrangement provides the mechanical advantage of the levers with the smooth operation of the cam action and retards the full closing of the sponge-carrying plates 13 sufficiently to allowthe water to be freely expelled before all of the working face 39 of the sponge is in contact with an opposed part, as shown in Figure 3.

By mounting the plates 13 on the jaws 4, which are in turn pivotally supported at the lower end of the handle, -the plates 13 can be swung to a fully closed position so that without the sponge they can be moved to abutfrom end-to-end, as clearly shown in Figure 6.

Thus the folded sponge of Figure 3 can be compressed to any degree'desired to ensure that it is thoroughly and completely wrung, and the sponge can be compressed to a very high. degree with relatively little effort under the combined cam and lever action.

Moreover, by supporting the sponge-carrying plates 13 to swing to a parallel abutting position, a thorough and complete wringing of any sponge element 34, regardless of its thickness, can be obtained, and the mop can be effectively used with various sizes of Sponges, as by provision of this clam or jaw formation, constituted by the v It will be noted that the inner ends of the spongecarryingv plates 13 and indicated at 40, with the plates in the aligned mopping position of Figure 1, project within the arch formed by the jaws 4 and under folding action of the sponge in wringing, support the sponge at the intermediate portion 38 to ensure compressive pressure at this point under wringing. The bulk-up of the central portion of the sponge 38 beyond the plate ends 40 is received within the jaws 4, and in no way interferes with the closing action of the jaws and plates 13.

Theresolutionof the forces acting on the plates 13 under initial movement of the levers-and cam relative the handle,` that iSydown the handle, are such as to provide a force directed inwardly to close the jaws 4, as shown in dotted line in Figure 5, squeezing the sponge longitudinallywhile links 21 and 17 maintain their angular relation. j Preferablyalso thelevers 12 are provided with a.

' set to resiliently spreadfat their lower Aends,faiordin ga l binding actionat the pivots '19, resisting relative turning 2,882,540- 5 f; of the lowerends of the levers,links 21 and 17 toA auga menfthis tendency to inipart an initial closingof the clai'n or jaw members 4. .y y Movement of thelevers 12 beyond their initial-move# menteauses-turning of the sponge-carrying fpla'tes1`13 and lower-end of said vhandle to openandl close,.a.pair of platesieaoh pivoted adjacent to .their inner lends to l"one of said pair-,ofnpivotal jaws'respectively4 and swingably' .Y 1 supported thereby to swing between'anralig'ned mopping` positiomext'ending transversely' fst-the' handlewith the relative movement ofy the'linksl 17 and'21,"and the'inc'reasinnerends "of said plates extending -inwardly ofv said Y ing pressure.under-bulking of...the` sponge as the inter-'Y jaws;and asubstantiallyabutting'parallelwringing ,posif mediate portion is folded spreadsthe jaws 4 again totherl tion with said inner-ends of said plates'disposedv between maximum open position -as fixed' by "the stop surfaces 5; said I'par .f'pivotalljaws, a sponge 'element'. carriedV byV as shown in Figure 2. This action also provides resistance said 'platesfa4 slide ymounted "on" said handle, -`lpairfgof to initialfolding' of .the sponge in conjunctionwith the`v levers fulcrumed on' said slide 'at opposite sides'foff over-centre snap action afforded by the links -21, levers said liandleylink -means connecting vsaid plates and said y 12 and resilient cam tracks 26. clam device "tothe lewer'end of .'said levers 'to'y actua'te,V

Following wringing, the sleeve 22 and V-cam 24`are' "said plates and clam device, means cari'ied' by said hant'" withdrawn upthe handle-1,-opening the'platesL-13,as the 15 dle t ae't'uat'e said levers and move said plates between lower ends of the levers 12 are spread as the rollers 31,

whichn are held to'the track 260f the cambythe hooks 32, move downthetrackway26.--

As the rollerslreachthelowerend` ofA the'Vf-cam ltracks 26 thehooks 29'fof-thecam engagethe'stops-"30 tdwith# draw the levers and slide 6 bodilyfupwardly-to fully open the plates 13 and withdraw the linksl 21 through their over-centre snap=acting position, i a's" shown' 'in Figure '-`5; and linally'movingthesponge-carrying plates 13 to their aligned; mopping [position:

It will he'understoodthat various' details of construcmoppingfaiidwringirig positionsv and close said jaws,said ff latter'fmeanshaving a'diverg'ent-caniming surface slidable aiongsaid'handle't selectively-limit 'the movement of* said leversg ment'spivotallysupported v:riop'posin'g relation at thev lower. end of said handle 't` swing lbe'tween an open and i i a substantially' closed position,I a pair [of plates pivoted to said 'cla'mfeleme'nts tor'lswing between an'aligned mop? i ping"pisitiorrextending"substantially transversely of the handle 4'o'ii' opposite: sides-thereof with'said 'clam elements tion r'n'ay be made without departing? fromthe scope'bf the appended claimssr"v i Wha we'iclaim asourinvention'isi y* l. Afmopcomprising Va handle', a pair ofplates swing-30 ably `ls'usfpcir't'eda't thelower end of said handle and being adapted vtoswing' between' a substantially aligned mdp* opentalnjdv afsubstantiallyabutting`wringing `position 'with f saidfclai'ri'elements'` closed,"a' vfoldable 'sponge carried by' L said plates/and helditherebyina "distended' position with said 'plates insaid mopping positiont'and folded' on itself and eornpressedtwith said 'plates insaid closed position,"

a slideperating on said handle', a-pair of levers fulcru'm'ed ping position extending transversely of the handle and a substantially abutting wringing position extending longitudinally of said handle, a foldable sponge element carried by said plates, a slide mounted on said handle, levers-fulcrumed on said slide at opposite sides of and extending along said handle, link means connecting the lower ends of said levers and said plates, said levers actuating said plates through said link means from mopping to wringing position upon initial movement along said handle and subsequent fulcruming movement, and V-cam means slidably mounted on said handle and disposed between said handle and the upper ends of said levers for electing sliding and fulcruming actions of said levers.

2. A mop as claimed in claim l in which the upper ends of said levers carry rollers and said V-cam means is provided with an upwardly diverging trackway arrangement on which said rollers operate, and means are provided holding said rollers from movement off said trackway.

3. A mop as claimed in claim 1 in which said V-cam means is provided at its lower end with stop means to engage stop means on said levers to draw said levers and slide upwardly upon upward movement of said cam beyond a point bringing said stops into engagement with said stop means for the levers.

4. A mop comprising a handle, a pair of spaced jaws pivotally supported at the lower end of said handle, a pair of plates pivoted to said jaws, a slide mounted on said handle, levers fulcrumed on said slide at opposite sides and extending longitudinally of said handle, link means connecting the aforesaid jaws and said plates to said levers, said levers having a combined sliding and fulcruming action on said slide to close said jaws and move said plates from a substantially aligned mopping position to a substantially abutting parallel wringing position, a foldable sponge element secured to said plates, and means for actuating said levers, said slide comprising a pair of plates arranged on opposite sides of said handle and having inturned end flanges having concaved edges bearing on said handle, said latter plates being connected by pins forming the fulcra for said levers.

5. A mop comprising a handle, a clam device comprising a pair of spaced pivota1 jaws supported at the on said slide on opposite sides of said handle and above said plates, link means connecting the lower ends of said levers and said plates and forming a toggle, a link means connecting the lower ends of said levers and said handle and means actuating said levers and slide along said handle to produce initial `closing of said clam members and plates and subsequently operating said levers about their fulcra to complete the closing action of said clam members and plates.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which said means for actuating said levers and slide comprises a V-cam operating on said handle and having upwardly diverging cam surfaces disposed on opposite sides of said handle between said handle and the upper ends of said levers, rollers carried by the upper ends of said levers and operating on said cam surfaces, and means securing said levers and slide to move with said V-cam as said rollers reach the lower portion of said cam surfaces.

8. A mop comprising a handle, a pair of jaws pivoted at the lower end of said handle and swingable from an open arch defining position and a substantially closed position, a pair of plates pivoted to said jaws,` a slide operating on said handle, a pair of levers fulcrumed at opposite sides and extending longitudinally of said handle on said slide, link means pivoted between said jaws and the lower ends of said levers, link means pivotally connected to the lower ends of said levers and to said plates, said levers and links actuating said plates from an aligned mopping position extending transversely on either side of said handle with said jaws being positively moved from said open arch defining position to an opposed closed position, a foldable sponge element secured to said plates, said first-mentioned links having an over-centre action spreading the lower ends of said levers at the point of initial closing of said plates, and means for operating said levers and slide to close said plates and jaws and to resiliently resist spreading of said lower lever ends as said first-mentioned links pass through their over-centre position to resist initial closing of said plates.

9. A mop comprising, a handle, a pair of sponge carrying plates supported at the lower end of said handle to swing between an aligned mopping and an opposed 7 t wringingposition, a `foldable sponge element carried by said plates, lever means carried by said handle, a link connection betweenrthe lowerA ends of said lever means, handle and plates spacing said lever means from said handle 'and said plates and providing a connection therebetween, cam means for operating said lever means, and having" a resilient formation co-operating with said link connection to resiliently resist initial fulcruming l ably mounted on said handle for sliding and actuating of said levers in initially movin'g said Vplates from said moppingposition towards said wringing position'.

l0. A vmop comprising a handle, a pair of plates swingably supported at the lower end of said handle and adapted to swing between a substantially aligned mopping position extending transversely of the handle and a substantially abutting wringing position extending longitudinally of said handle, a foldable sponge element carried by said plates, lever means carried by said handle a'nd slidable therealong to move said plates from said mopping position to said wringing position and divergent cam means slidably mounted on said handle for sliding and actuating said lever means.

11.In a mop, a handle, a pair of arcuate jaw elements pivotally supported at the lower end of said handle, a pair of plates swingably supported from said jaw elements and being adapted to swing between a substantially aligned mopping position extending transversely ofthe handle and a substantially abutting wringing position extending longitudinally of the handle, lever means carried by said handle and being slidable therealongt'oV move said plates from said mopping position 5 to said wringing position and divergent cam means slidsaid lever means. 12. In a device according to claim 11 in which said'- lever means comprises a pair of levers pivoted at opposite sides to a slide slidable along said handle, link means pivotally connected between said jaw elements and the lower ends of said levers, and link means pivotally connected between said plates and the lower ends of said levers, said i'lrst mentioned link means having an over-center action spreading the lower ends of said levers to initially resist movement of said plates when moved from the mopping position toward the wringing position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS y 2,648,859 Flagstad Aug. 18, 1953 2,706,303 l Ours -..APL 19, 1955 2,730,744 Vaughn ....Ian. 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,332 Great Britain of 1895 76,184v Norway Jan. 30, 1950 135,250 Sweden Apr. l5, 1952 136,719 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1919 216,565, Germany Nov. 24, 1909 496,850 Belgium July 3l, 1950 553,287 Great Britain May 30, l1943 596,139 Germany Apr. 27, 1934 617,197 Germany n Aug. 14, 1935 France Sept. 2, 1953 I 

